Data center having expandable or multipurpose configuration

ABSTRACT

A building includes a data center to house computing equipment including computers and servers. The data center stores data. The building also includes a multipurpose center that houses office spaces, conference rooms and meeting rooms. The data center and multipurpose center differ in function but share resources. The data center is expandable using a configuration of a control room, an electrical room and a mechanical room. Additional data center floors adjoin existing structures to increase available space in a linear manner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to data centers and buildings housing computers/servers. More particularly, the present invention relates to data centers having modularity and expandability, as well multipurpose capabilities.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

A data center houses servers, computers and other equipment to store large amounts of data. The amount of data produced by organizations and individuals increases exponentially over time, and this data must be stored safely and effectively. Systems are backed up as well, which increases the need for data storage. Data centers remain the best option for such storage as it moves the computers and servers to a remote location having lower costs and greater security than a location within offices or a headquarters.

Most data centers are large and stand alone from other buildings, for example, as box-like, closed buildings. Data centers do not look like office buildings or commercial buildings. This difference appearance comes from the function and configuration of a data center from these other buildings. Sunlight and exposure to weather may degrade the performance of the equipment in the data center.

A data center includes racks, cables, stands, buses and other items to operate the large number of servers and computers that store and access the data. This equipment consumes energy in the form of power and in the demands to cool the area, much greater than typical office or commercial buildings. Further, the equipment housed in a data center expels greater heat than conventional office equipment.

Data center growth is limited by lack of flexibility in design and functionality. Conventional data centers are built to a standard, such as 40 watts per square foot. This limitation does not allow for upgrades in operational capabilities or availability of additional power. A data center built today may remain in current technology by the standards applicable at the time of construction. No flexibility is provided to adjust to new demands. Thus, a data center may be limited to outdated standards or capabilities after being in operation for a few years.

Another problem encountered by current data centers is expandability. A data center is built within a structure and is limited to the size of that structure. With the increased data storage demands, the structure may run out of room over time. The data center may be unable to grow to house additional servers, computers and related equipment because of the lack of space or power to accommodate the additional load.

Moreover, the additional equipment expels greater amounts of heat, which leads to environmental concerns. A space crowded with electronic equipment poses a hazard to that equipment as well as greater demands to cool the area. Thus, the inability to expand creates problems in meeting increasing customer demands and with a greater impact on the environment.

Moreover, expansion of a data center results in construction while additional space is attached to the structure. The servers and computers in the data center may have to be shut down or relocated as walls are taken down or built. Dust, debris and the like also may find its way into the data center to further compromise operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A data center having expandability and multi-use capabilities is disclosed that allows for upgrades, expansion and improvements without sacrificing service or space. The data center incorporates modularity and a unique configuration to encourage additional data centers being added onto an existing data center. Further, the data center may be combined with offices, conference rooms and other structures to form a multipurpose building that uses features of the data center to improve conditions in the other parts of the building.

According to the present invention, a data center is disclosed. The data center includes a data center floor having a floor and a plurality of rows of computing equipment. The data center also includes a first control room adjoining a first side of the data center floor to monitor and control the plurality of computing equipment. The data center also includes a first electrical room on a second side of the data center floor to supply power and network connections to the plurality of rows of computing equipment. The data center also includes a first mechanical room on a third side of the data center floor to provide cooling or air movement to the data center floor. The first mechanical room is perpendicular to the first electrical room. The data center also includes a new data center floor having a plurality of rows of computing equipment and adjoining the first mechanical room or the first electrical room. The data center floor and the new data center floor share resources of the first mechanical room or the first electrical room.

Further according to the present invention, a building is disclosed. The building includes a data center having at least one data center floor enclosed by a control room, a electrical room and a mechanical room. The data center includes rows of computing equipment. The building also includes a multipurpose center having an office space, conference room or lobby and a hallway. The multipurpose center receives heat or energy from the data center.

Further according to the present invention, a method for expanding a data center is disclosed. The method includes configuring a first control room, a first electrical room and a first mechanical room around a first data center floor. The first electrical room and the first mechanical room are perpendicular to each other. The method also includes building a second electrical room linearly from the first electrical room or a second mechanical room linearly from the first mechanical room. The method also includes building the second data center floor along the second electrical room or the second mechanical room and along the first electrical room or the first mechanical room. The method also includes bringing the second data center floor online with the first data center floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings listed below illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, as disclosed by the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a building having a data center according to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates depicts a block diagram of a building with multiple data centers according to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cut away view of a data center floor according to the disclosed embodiments

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart for expanding a data center according to the disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present invention and their equivalents are devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present invention. It should be noted that like elements disclosed below are indicated by like reference numbers in the drawings.

The present invention includes a data center configuration that works in conjunction with associated structures, such as office space or a multipurpose center, to provide environmentally sound use of energy, expandability, modularity and security. Further, the operation of the data center provides improvements over conventional data centers by allowing expansion without impacting service.

The disclosed embodiments include a data center that may be deployed rapidly in a given area. Once deployed, the data center and other associated structures should not severely impact the surrounding environment or location.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a building 100 having a data center 102 according to the disclosed embodiments. Building 100 is a modular, multipurpose facility that includes grounds, parking, landscaping and other features associated with stand-alone buildings on a campus setting. Building 100 includes data center 102 and multipurpose center 104. Although shown as separate features of building 100, data center 102 and multipurpose center 104 are interconnected to allow movements of personnel, equipment, resources, air and the like between each.

Data center 102 is the heart of building 100. It houses the computing equipments, such as computers and servers, to store, process and compile data. Data center floor 106 includes the racks of computing equipment including computers and servers, along with connections, power lines, data buses and the like. The configuration of data center floor 106 is disclosed in greater detail below. Data center floor 106 may have a 10,000 square foot area with a raised floor to better circulate heat and allow access to the equipment on the floor.

Data center 102 also includes control room 112, electrical room 110, and mechanical room 108. These elements, along with data center floor 106, form the heart of future data center expansion from data center 102. Control room 112 may be an operations center to monitor and control the equipment, computers, servers and other resources on data center floor 106. Control room 112 also may be responsible for receiving and distributing data throughout data center floor 106. Operators may sit in control room 112 and use networked devices and computers to oversee the servers and computers on data center floor 106.

For example, clients and customers sign agreements to store, compile or process their data at data center 102. This data is provided to control room 112 at an ongoing basis for storage within servers on data center floor 106. The data may be temporarily stored at resources in control room 112 until the data may be scanned or secured prior to placement in the equipment on data center floor 106. Further, operators in control room 112 may monitor equipment for bugs, breakdowns and the like and take corrective action.

Electrical room 110 houses the power sources and connections for the grid of servers and computers within data center floor 106. Essentially, electrical room 110 may be configured such that power is provided along the rows of racks crossing data center floor 106. Power for data center floor 106 may be about 200 watts per square foot, with the ability to increase from about 400 watts per square foot to about 600 watts per square foot. These upgrades can be made at the equipment in electrical room 110 without the need to retrofit the servers on data center floor 106. Most conventional data centers offer about 120 watts per square foot.

Mechanical room 108 houses the air handling and circulation equipment for data center floor 106. Air is moved off the floor to cool the servers, computers, and other equipment on data center floor 106. Alternatively, cooled air may be moved onto the floor of data center floor 106. Movement of the air may be accomplished by air conditioners, fans, and the like. Alternatively, mechanical room 108 may include power supplies for heavy duty equipment within data center 102. In other words, electrical room 110 supplies power to computers and servers, while mechanical room 108 supplies power to large fans, machinery, or other equipment that place loads on the electrical grid for building 100.

Electrical room 110 and mechanical room 108 are perpendicular to each other in configuration. This set up allows for expandability, as disclosed below. Preferably, electrical room 110 is configured parallel to control room 112. Thus, the rows of servers and computers may run between control room 112 and electrical room 110 such that power is delivered along the same racks as the monitoring and control operations, and the control room 112 can monitor electrical room 110 closely. Mechanical room 108 borders both control room 112 and electrical room 110, and may be parallel with an outside wall of data center floor 106. All three rooms border the outside edges of data center floor 106.

Building 100 also includes multipurpose center 104. Multipurpose center 104 differs from data center 102 in that large number of servers and computers are not housed inside, and most of its area is for office space or commercial purposes. Multipurpose center 104 includes a lobby 116, which serves as the entrance to data center 102 as well. Personnel may check-in depending on their clearance. In other words, personnel authorized for multipurpose center 104 may not have authorization for data center 102, and vice versa.

Multipurpose center 104 also includes office spaces 114-1 through 114-4. These office spaces may house individual offices, cubicles, storage, conference facilities, and the like. Further, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to four office spaces, but may be any number. The number shown is for illustrative purposes only. An office space may be set up with computer and other devices for working. Alternatively, office spaces 114-1 through 114-4 may be stores or retail spaces.

Moreover, office spaces 114-1 through 114-4 may be separated by movable walls so that larger spaces may be created by removing the walls. For example, one large multi-use or conference room may be created with no partitions, or possibly two rooms may be set up using office spaces 114-1 and 114-2, and office spaces 114-3 and 114-4, respectively.

Other rooms in multipurpose center 104 include kitchen 122, break room 124, restrooms 126 and 128, and training rooms 130 and 132. Other rooms may be included in multipurpose center 104, such as an information technology room or printer/copier room. Multipurpose center 104, therefore, may include additional rooms and facilities as needed. Further, multipurpose center 104 may include additional floors with rooms or a conference center up or below the rooms disclosed above. A basement may reside below the main rooms of multipurpose center 104.

Hallway 118 may connect the different rooms together, and serves as an access corridor between the floors of multipurpose center 104. Hallway 120 may connect multipurpose center 104 with data center 102. Alternatively, hallway 120 may stay separate from data center 102 such that no access is allowed. In this instance, data center 102 may include a separate entrance from lobby 116.

Building 100 also include storage or extra areas 134 and 136. These areas may allow expansion by electrical room 110, mechanical room 108 or control room 112. For example, electrical room 110 may take over storage area 134 if extra power supplies need to be housed in data center 102. Alternatively, areas 134 and 136 may house rooms for sleeping or exclusively for personnel of data center 102.

Building 100 provides continuity of operations such that data center 102 and multipurpose center 104 continue services despite power outages, security threats, or other disruptions during normal business. Not only does data center 102 keep the stored data intact or available, but the multipurpose center 104 also remains up and running so that work or operations continue by personnel during a crisis. Thus, companies and agencies utilizing building 100 may keep their data secure and available within data center 102 as well as continue business in multipurpose center 104.

Multipurpose center 104 also provides an improved appearance over the box-like look of conventional data centers. A parking lot as well other amenities may surround building 100. For example, a storm water pond may be located nearby to run off water, and stays dry in the summer but wet in the winter. Thus, vegetation, trees, shrubs and other landscaping may improve the overall appearance of building 100.

The disclosed embodiments allow expandability such that additional data centers and structures may attach to building 100 as needs arise. FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of building 100 with multiple data centers according to the disclosed embodiments. Building 100 includes data center 102, multipurpose center 104 and their associated rooms and facilities. The only real difference in FIG. 2 for multipurpose center 104 is that hallway 120 extends further out from control room 112.

As shown in FIG. 2, data center 102 includes three additional data center floors 202, 204 and 206 along with data center floor 106. Data center floors 202, 204 and 206 include servers, computers, racks, and associated equipment for data storage. Preferably, data center floors 202, 204 and 206 approximately are the same size as data center floor 106, or 10,000 square feet. Data center floors 202, 204 and 206 preferably are configured the same as data center floor 106 such that each floor includes a consistent layout.

The data center floors will share an electrical or mechanical room with another data center floor. For example, data center floor 106 and data center floor 202 share electrical room 110. Data center floor 106 and data center floor 206 share mechanical room 108. New electrical room 210 joins data center floors 204 and 206. New mechanical room 212 joins data center floors 202 and 204. Thus, every data center floor within building 100 may have a service room, either electrical or mechanical, between itself and another data center floor.

Data center 102 also includes a new control room 208. Control room 208 takes over responsibility of data center floors 204 and 206, and may monitor or control operations executing on these floors. Further, control room 208 may take over control of all data center floors if something happens to control room 112. Thus, building 100 includes redundancy in its operations to increase efficiency as well as flexibility. The division of labor between control rooms 112 and 208 ensures that a single control room is not overloaded or burdened with increasing responsibilities as more features come on-line.

Electrical room 210 may resemble electrical room 110 in function and services. Except now, electrical rooms 110 and 210 supply power to the data center floors. Additional electrical rooms may be added to building 100 by expanding their number in a direction consistent with the existing ones, or in linear fashion. Electrical rooms also may be added that run parallel to current electrical rooms.

Mechanical room 212 extends in the same direction, or linearly, and in line with mechanical room 108. Mechanical rooms 108 and 212 provide services to two data center floors each. Additional mechanical rooms may be added to building 100 also by expanding in a direction consistent with existing mechanical rooms.

This configuration is advantageous because data center capabilities may be expanded without sacrificing service or closing down existing data center resources. New data center floors are coupled to existing rooms, and never touch existing data center floors. Data center floor 106 is self-contained by electrical room 110 and mechanical room 108. Once a new data center floor is completed, such as data center floor 206, then the adjoining electrical or mechanical room is connected to the new data center floor. Nothing is shut down during this process. Dust and debris from building operations and construction are kept out of existing data center floor 106.

The additional electrical and mechanical rooms also provide redundancy of their services within data center 102. For example, if electrical room 110 goes off-line, then electrical room 210 may be called upon to supply power to data center floors 106, 202, 204 and 206. The same capability exists for mechanical rooms 108 and 212. Moreover, new data center floors may provide redundancy for existing data centers floors should something occur to cause a shutdown.

Thus, as data center 102 expands, important functions, services and capabilities are built linearly and modularly. Redundancy is introduced to provide security and ease of mind in case problems arise. If one room goes down, then another is available for backup. The disclosed configuration allows for expandability in a linear manner without a lot of confusion. The disclosed configuration also allows for rapid deployment and construction.

Although FIG. 2 shows four data centers, building 100 may expand using the linear configuration and modular design to six, eight, or more data centers. Moreover, additional multipurpose centers and accompanying office space configurations may be added as needed. In short, building 100 may start with the basic configuration shown in FIG. 1, but then expand to meet increasing demands and needs by customers. FIG. 2 depicts data center 102 expanding from 10,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet without any loss in service or capabilities.

Data center 102 expels a large amount of heat and energy while in operation. Building 100 may route the heated air out of data center 102 and into multipurpose center 104. Thus, multipurpose center 104 receives heated air without expending additional energy from outside sources. Further, the heat generated by data center 102 may be converted into other types of energy, such as electrical or mechanical, to provide additional resources for use within building 100. The expelled heat also may be used to heat water or other materials within building 100. Mechanical rooms, such as room 108, may help guide the heated air to another location.

The capture and utilization of the heated air within data center 102 stems from the configuration of the floor space within. The unique and novel configuration of data center 102 allows the air to be captured and routed away from the servers and computers on data center floor 106, thereby reducing cooling requirements.

FIG. 3 depicts a cut away view of a data center floor 400 according to the disclosed embodiments. Data center floor 400 corresponds to data center floor 106 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or any of the other data center floors. Preferably, data center floor 400 includes about 10,000 square feet in space and may implement hot/cold zone deployment to provide heat diffusion.

Data center floor 400 utilizes a raised floor configuration to allow air to flow freely within the structure and for heat to dissipate. The raised floor also allows building 100 to take advantage of free cooling in temperate locations, which reduces the carbon footprint and energy needs. In other words, the ground below data center floor 400 may be cool or even cold during the winter months, and this fact may help reduce energy needs for cooling the servers and computers.

Data center floor 400 includes servers, or computers, 402 that are set on racks that extend across floor 404. Preferably, a variable-load bus bar configuration is used to power and access servers 402. Variable-load bus bars place everything above the racks and off floor 404 of data center floor 400. The bus bars may be set up or tore down as needed. The overhead location keeps cables, connectors, power supply cords, networking cords, and the like off floor 404, and out of the way of operators. The overhead placement reduces degradation of equipment. One may deploy additional racks and servers quickly by adding more bars along the top of data center floor 400.

Data center floor 400 also includes a plenum space d between slab 406 and floor 404. Plenum space d allows air to collect below servers 402. Preferably, plenum space d is about 36 inches in depth, which provides 360,000 cubic feet of air to cool servers 402. Floor 404 may be supported by stanchions 422 rising from slab 406. Stanchions 422 are easy-to-construct units of support. Stanchions 422 are implemented modularly along slab 406 such that as more floor space is need, the support for servers 402 is added accordingly.

Data center floor 400 is bordered by walls 410 and 412. Wall 410 borders data center floor 400 and a mechanical room, such as mechanical room 108, and wall 412 borders data center floor 400 and an electrical room, such as electrical room 110. As disclosed above, mechanical room 108 and electrical room 110 are perpendicular to each other in configuration, and are so here. As shown in FIG. 3, servers 402 extend from wall 412 of an electrical room. Power for servers 402 may be supplied from the electrical room and extended out on the overhead variable-load bus bars.

Air conditioning, or climate control, units 408 are located along wall 410 and extend from a mechanical room. Units 408 provide cooling to the air in data floor center 400 or may direct air flow out from plenum space d to other locations within building 100. Fans or other air movement devices may be located along wall 410 and part of the mechanical room. Thus, during expansion, the set up of a mechanical room may be duplicated in the new mechanical room, including the location of the various cooling and air movement units. The electrical rooms may be added in the same manner by duplicating the set up of servers 402.

As shown in FIG. 3, servers 402 are deployed in rows on top of floor 404. The tiles for floor 404 include apertures 420 that allow air to flow from plenum space d between floor 404 and slab 406. Apertures 420 may be located beneath servers 402 so that the heated air flows downward into plenum space d for cooling and movement towards units 408.

Alternatively, cool air from plenum space d flows upward out of apertures 420 to cool servers 402. This feature also may take advantage of “free cooling,” as disclosed above. Free cooling may be available in those locations that enjoy an ambient temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or less for about six months of the calendar year. Free cooling means that air within plenum space d is cooled by the ground temperature, and flows up to servers 402 on floor 404 through apertures 420. This activity reduces energy costs as air conditioners do not have to supply as much cooling as normal. The act of cooling servers drains the most power in conventional data centers. Further, the carbon footprint may be reduced as well as less energy resources are consumed by building 100.

Thus, the configuration of the room for a data center floor lends itself to expandability as the electrical and mechanical devices may be added accordingly by keeping such rooms in a perpendicular configuration. Additional data centers may be constructed by building the centers keeping the electrical and mechanical rooms perpendicular, and adding a control room for every row of data centers. This configuration also increases redundancy in operations and resources.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart 450 for expanding a data center according to the disclosed embodiments. Where appropriate, the disclosure of FIG. 4 refers back to the features shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Step 452 executes by configuring the existing data center. Referring back to FIG. 2, data center 102 would be configured as shown in FIG. 1, if it was not already configured. Step 454 executes by configuring control room 112 to a side of data center floor 106. Preferably, control room 112 is placed on the side adjoining multipurpose center 104 so that personnel may move between both centers.

Step 456 executes by configuring electrical room 110 and mechanical room 108 around data center floor 106. Electrical room 110 is built perpendicular, or orthogonal, to mechanical room 108. One of the rooms is parallel to control room 112, while the other also is perpendicular to control room 112. The disclosed embodiments may build a storage room to separate the rooms for each other.

Step 458 executes by identifying a need for a new data center, possibly due to maximization of existing resources and increased demands for services. Step 460 executes by building a new control room, such as control room 208 shown in FIG. 2, linearly from existing control room 112. Preferably, control room 208 is not built parallel with control room 112. New control room 208 may replicate control room 112 in function and design. If no new control room is desired, then this step may be skipped.

Step 462 executes by building a new electrical room 210 linearly from existing electrical room 110. New electrical room 210 should be perpendicular to existing mechanical room 108. Step 464 executes by adding components to supply power and network cables to the new servers within the new data center floor. Preferably, electrical room 210 resembles the build of existing electrical room 110, and can provide power/links to both data centers if a problem occurs.

Step 466 executes by building a new mechanical room 212 linearly from existing mechanical room 108. New mechanical room 212 should be perpendicular to existing electrical room 110. Step 468 executes by adding cooling units 408 to new mechanical room 212. Cooling units 408 may be air conditioners, fans and the like to cool or move air within the new data center. Preferably, the placement of these units resembles the configuration found in mechanical room 108 and data center floor 106.

In some embodiments, either a new electrical room or a new mechanical room will be built. There will be no need for a new electrical room and a new mechanical room. Thus, either steps 462-64 are executed, or steps 466-68 are executed, depending on the current configuration of the electrical and mechanical rooms and the desired location for expansion.

Referring to FIG. 2, control room 208 is built perpendicular to mechanical room 108 so that only a new electrical room 210 needs construction. If no new control room is desired, then mechanical room 212 may be constructed instead of electrical room 210. In yet other embodiments, no new electrical or mechanical rooms need constructing, as in the case of data center floor 204. In this instance, the disclosed embodiments can proceed directly to step 470.

Step 470 executes by placing slab 406 down for new data center floor 202 or 206. Preferably, slab 406 is below floor level, such as 36 inches deep. This feature allows the cool ground to supply cooling properties to the air beneath the servers. Step 472 executes by placing stanchions 422 on slab 406. Preferably, stanchions 422 are built in sections as flooring is needed. Step 474 executes by building floor 404 on top of stanchions 422.

Step 476 executes by adding the overhead buses within new data center floor 202, 204 or 206. The overhead buses extend from the applicable electrical room. Step 478 executes by building the server rows for servers 402, or for computers and other processing equipment. Step 480 executes by bringing the new data center floor, and new data center capability, online. Preferably, the additional structure adds 10,000 square feet of data center floor space within building 100.

Thus, according to the disclosed embodiments, a building includes a data center and multipurpose center that act in concert with each other to supply heat and energy where needed, and to save on energy costs. The data center includes a control room, an electrical room and a mechanical room in a specified configuration. This configuration allows expandability from the data center to add new data centers as needed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed embodiments of the privacy card cover without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of the embodiments disclosed above provided that the modifications and variations come within the scope of any claims and their equivalents. 

1. A data center comprising: a data center floor having a floor and a plurality of rows of computing equipment; a first control room adjoining a first side of the data center floor to monitor and control the plurality of computing equipment; a first electrical room on a second side of the data center floor to supply power and network connections to the plurality of rows of computing equipment; a first mechanical room on a third side of the data center floor to provide cooling or air movement to the data center floor, wherein the first mechanical room is perpendicular to the first electrical room; and a new data center floor having a plurality of rows of computing equipment and adjoining the first mechanical room or the first electrical room, wherein the data center floor and the new data center floor share resources of the first mechanical room or the first electrical room.
 2. The data center of claim 1, further comprising a second electrical room to extend linearly from the first electrical room and adjoining the new data center floor.
 3. The data center of claim 1, further comprising a second mechanical room to extend linearly from the first mechanical room and adjoining the new data center floor.
 4. The data center of claim 1, wherein the floor of the data center floor is located above a slab.
 5. The data center of claim 4, wherein a plenum space separates the floor from the slab in the data center floor.
 6. The data center of claim 1, further comprising a second control room to extend linearly from the first control room.
 7. A building comprising: a data center having at least one data center floor enclosed by a control room, a electrical room and a mechanical room, wherein the data center includes rows of computing equipment; and a multipurpose center having an office space, conference room or lobby and a hallway, wherein the multipurpose center receives heat or energy from the data center.
 8. The building of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of data center floors within the data center.
 9. The building of claim 7, wherein heated air from the data center is collected by the mechanical room and diverted to the multipurpose center.
 10. The building of claim 7, wherein the hallway connects the control room of the data center to the lobby of the multipurpose center.
 11. A method for expanding a data center, the method comprising: configuring a first control room, a first electrical room and a first mechanical room around a first data center floor, wherein the first electrical room and the first mechanical room are perpendicular to each other; building a second electrical room linearly from the first electrical room or a second mechanical room linearly from the first mechanical room; building the second data center floor along the second electrical room or the second mechanical room and adjoining the first electrical room or the first mechanical room; and bringing the second data center floor online with the first data center floor.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising building a second control room linearly from the first control room.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising adding electrical equipment to the second electrical room corresponding to electrical equipment in the first electrical room.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising adding cooling or air movement units to the second mechanical room.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the building the second data center floor step includes placing a slab at a depth below a floor.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising creating a plenum space between the floor and the slab.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising placing a plurality of stanchions on the slab to hold the floor for the second data center floor. 